‘‘On behalf of Wollongong NRE Hawks and all Hawks members and fans, I want to express our deepest sympathies to Tyson Demos and all his family on the sudden loss this week of Tyson’s father,’’ Mr Bahlmann said.

‘‘This is a tragic loss for Tyson and his family.’’

Mr Bahlmann also paid tribute to Mr Demos as a ‘‘great supporter of the Hawks and of basketball in this region’’.

Mr Demos also had a passion for rugby league and the Illawarra.

He was a strong supporter of a number of Illawarra sports including boxing.

‘‘Kon was a very passionate rugby league person but he was also a very passionate Illawarra person,’’ Illawarra Steelers life member and director Bob Millward said yesterday.